Apparatus and Method for Magnetizing a Dart

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for magnetizing a dart, comprise the steps of: A. preparing a temporarily magnetizable dart; B. charging the dart with a magnet charger; and C. throwing dart and scoring. Through the abovementioned steps, the magnetizing coil or permanent magnet serves as a magnet charger to magnetize the dart, and the magnetic induction material of the dart will produce a temporary magnetic force. The temporary magnetic force of the dart can cooperate with the magnetic induction scoring dartboard to automatically create a score, and the temporary magnetism will disappear within a predetermined period of time. Therefore, the dart is suitable for use in a formal dart competition, and the user doesn&#39;t have to worry about the adverse effect of the magnetic force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for magnetizing a dart, wherein magnetizing coil or permanent magnet is used as a magnet charger to temporarily magnetize the temporarily magnetizable dart.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Most of the magnetic induction type electronic dartboards are provided with permanent magnetic dart.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,694 discloses a magnetic dart as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the body 10 of the dart is made of non-magnetic induction material, in the front end of the body 10 is inserted a strong magnetic member 11 that protrudes therefrom, and an electromagnetic induction dartboard is used to record the score automatically. The aforementioned magnetic dart has been in existence for a long time, however, it still has the following disadvantages:

First, the strong magnetic member 11 in the front end of the body 10 will constantly produce magnetic force during the course of use, transport and storage, and will have adverse effect on the user's health after a long time of use.

Second, the magnetic force of the magnetic member 11 will affect the use of electronic instrument, mobile phone, and various electronic products.

Third, according to the rule of today's dart competition, the dart must include a body, a scoring tip connected to the body, a shaft, and a flight connected to the shaft. The tip may be soft tip or hard tip. However, there is no scoring tip on the front end of the body 10, therefore, this conventional dart cannot be used in formal competition. Further, the player can't experience the penetrating strength when throwing dart; and the dart game gives the player no pleasure.

TW Serial No. 089,127,002 discloses an automatic scoring method suitable for electronic dartboard and its device, wherein the magnetic dart 12 is thrown to the dartboard 13, the respective scoring areas of the dartboard 13 are provided with coils 14, and the coils 14 in the scoring area to which the magnetic dart 12 is thrown serve to output the induction signals to create a score. And the tip 15 of the magnetic dart 12 is magnetic. Although this magnetic dart overcomes the problem of the pleasure of the dart game and complies with the rule of the formal dart competition, it still has the following disadvantages:

First, the tip 15 of the magnetic dart 12 is magnetic, due to the effect of the magnetism on the health, users don't want the dart to have magnetism when playing game of dart, otherwise, the player will feel uncomfortable after using the strong magnetic dart for a long time. Therefore, a professional player always hopes that the dart can be selectively provided with magnetism, however, the conventional product doesn't provide such a choice to the user.

Second, the tip 15 of the magnetic dart 12 is magnetic and is not detachable, and in addition to permanent magnetism, the tip 15 should also have certain degree of hardness and toughness (the existing permanent magnetic alloys include Fe—Cr—Co alloy, and Mn—Al—C alloy). Thereby, the cost of the tip 15 of the magnetic dart 12 is too high.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method for magnetizing a dart, comprising the steps of:

-   -   A. preparing a temporarily magnetizable dart;     -   B. charging the dart with a magnet charger;     -   C. throwing dart and scoring; and

wherein magnetizing coil or permanent magnet are used as magnet charger to temporarily magnetize the temporarily magnetizable dart, the temporarily effective magnetism will be produced on the magnetic induction material of the dart, and the temporarily effective magnetism will disappear within a predetermined period of time, so that the user doesn't have to worry about the adverse effect of the magnetic force.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a magnet charging apparatus for a dart, the dart can be selectively provided with magnetism according to the user's requirement. The dart is made of temporarily magnetizable material, and magnetizing coil or permanent magnet of a magnet charger are used to temporarily magnetize the temporarily magnetizable dart, so that the temporarily magnetizable dart can produce the effective magnetism at any predetermined period of time, and thus temporarily magnetizable dart without magnetism charge is suitable both for using in a formal dart competition and in an ordinary dart competition of non-magnetic induction scoring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of showing a conventional dart;

FIG. 2 is another illustrative view of showing a conventional dart;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart in accordance with the present invention of showing the steps of the method for magnetizing a dart;

FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for magnetizing a dart in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an operational view in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is another operational view in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an operational view in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an operational view in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is an operational view in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of showing the steps of the method for magnetizing a dart, and the method comprises the steps of:

A. Preparing a Temporarily Magnetizable Dart:

using temporarily magnetizable material (such as: iron, copper, stainless steel, cupro-nickel, and Ni—Fe alloy) to produce body or tip of the dart, and preparing a magnetic induction scoring dartboard;

B. Charging the Dart with a Magnet Charger:

putting the temporarily magnetizable dart in a magnetic charger with magnetizing coil or a permanent magnet, after the magnetizing coil of the magnet charger is electrified or the permanent magnet is rubbed against the temporarily magnetizable dart, the current flow direction of the magnetizing coil will produce a directional magnetic field in the magnetizing coil, at this moment, the body of the temporarily magnetizable dart previously had no magnetism now produces magnetism under the influence of the external magnetic field, with the increase of the external magnetic field, the magnetizing field induced by ferromagnetic materials will also be increased, and the magnetism will be more stronger;

C. Throwing Dart and Scoring:

throwing the temporarily magnetizable dart with temporary magnetism toward the magnetic induction scoring dartboard, after the dart hits the dartboard, the lines of magnetic force temporarily produced by the temporarily magnetizable dart will enable the magnetic induction scoring dartboard to create a score;

D. Demagnetizing the Temporarily Magnetizable Dart:

after the temporarily magnetizable dart is thrown, the temporary magnetism will disappear within a predetermined period of time, and the dart will become a standard dart without magnetism.

It is to be noted that, if the magnet charger is provided with magnetizing coil, the step D of demagnetizing the temporarily magnetizable dart can be carried out by putting the temporarily magnetizable dart into the magnetizing coil of the magnet charger again, and by electrifying the magnetizing coil with reverse current. In this way, an external reverse magnetic field will be added to the temporarily magnetizable dart, and the magnetic induction field previously existed in the temporarily magnetizable dart will disappear quickly.

Referring to FIG. 4, an apparatus for magnetizing a dart in accordance with the present invention is shown and comprises: a temporarily magnetizable dart 20 and a magnet charger 30. The apparatus of the present invention is to be used with a magnetic induction scoring dartboard 40.

The temporarily magnetizable dart 20 includes a body 21, a shaft 22 jointed to the body 21, a flight 23 jointed to the shaft 22, and a tip 24 jointed to the body 21. The tip 24 is made of magnetic induction material (such as: iron, copper, stainless steel, cupro-nickel, and Ni—Fe alloy).

The magnet charger 30 includes a body 31, a power resource 32, and magnetizing coil 33. The power source 32 and the magnetizing coil 33 are electrically connected and located on one side of the magnetic induction scoring dartboard 40. A receiving space 331 is formed in the magnetizing coil 33 for insertion of the tip 24 of the temporarily magnetizable dart 20. On the body 31 are arranged a switch 34 for controlling the magnetizing coil 33, a current flow valve 35, and a charging light 36.

For a better understanding of the first embodiment, its operation and function, reference should be made to FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the user takes part in an ordinary dart competition of non-magnetic induction scoring, he/she can turn off the magnet charger 30, so that the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 has no magnetism. The magnetic force of the tip of the magnetic dart has disappeared, and the user doesn't have to worry about the adverse effect of the magnetic force during the course of use, transport and storage (and the dartboard doesn't need to have the function of magnetic induction scoring).

When the dart is to be used in magnetic induction scoring type dart game, and the dartboard is a magnetic induction scoring type dartboard 40, the user can put the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 into the receiving space 331 of the magnetizing coil 33 of the magnet charger 30 initially, and then electrify the magnetizing coil 33 by switching on the switch 34 of the magnet charger 30. At this moment, the current flow inside the magnetizing coil 33 produces a directional magnetic field (the direction of the magnetic field is determined by the current flow valve 35) in the receiving space 331. At this moment, the tip 24 of the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 previously had no magnetism is temporarily magnetized under the influence of the external magnetic field. And the user can take out the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 after the charging light 36 is turned on (the charging light 36 being on means that the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 is magnetized to a predetermined value and the magnetism will disappear gradually after a predetermined length of time).

After the process of magnetization is over, the user can play the game of dart by throwing the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 toward the magnetic induction scoring dartboard 40. The lines of the temporary magnetic force generated by the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 will cooperate with the magnetic induction scoring dartboard 40 to create a score. And after use, the magnetic force of the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 will fade away within a predetermined length of time, and the demagnetization time is determined according to the intensity of the magnetic force.

If the user wants to demagnetize the dart quickly, he/she can use the magnetizing coil 33 to change the reverse magnetic field of the current, so that the reverse current of the magnetizing coil 33 can demagnetize the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 quickly, and the direction of the magnetic field is determined by the current flow valve 35.

It is to be noted that on the body 31 are arranged the switch 34 for controlling the magnetizing coil 33, the current flow valve 35, and the charging light 36. The charging light 36 can tell if the process of magnet charging or demagnetization is finished, and the current flow valve 35 serves to control the current flow, producing positive and negative magnetic field.

Referring to FIG. 7, an apparatus for magnetizing a dart in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The body 21 of the temporarily magnetizable dart 20 is also made of magnetic induction material and cooperates with the long magnetizing coil 51 in the magnet charger 50 to magnetize the tip 24 and the body 21.

FIG. 8 shows an apparatus for magnetizing a dart in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, in the receiving space of the magnet charger 60 is disposed a permanent magnet 61 which serves to magnetize the tip 24. The power source, wires, and the charging light can be omitted in this embodiment, which effectively contributes to simplification.

FIG. 9 shows an apparatus for magnetizing a dart in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the receiving space of the magnet charger 70 is disposed a permanent magnet 71 which serves to magnetize the tip 24 and the body 21 synchronously. The power source, wires, and the charging light can be omitted in this embodiment, which effectively contributes to simplification, and the scope of magnetization is increased.

Finally, in the receiving space of the magnet charger of the present invention for accommodation of the temporarily magnetizable dart is disposed a permanent magnet, the temporarily magnetizable dart rubs against the permanent magnet in the receiving space of the magnet charger, the body or the tip of the temporarily magnetizable dart previously had no magnetism will also produce magnetism under the influence of the external magnetic field.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for magnetizing a dart, comprising the steps of: A. preparing a temporarily magnetizable dart: using temporarily magnetizable material to produce body or tip of a dart, and preparing a magnetic induction scoring dartboard; B. charging the dart with a magnet charger: putting the temporarily magnetizable dart in a position close to a magnet charger, such that magnetic field of the magnet charger will enable the temporarily magnetizable dart to produce magnetism; and C. throwing dart and scoring: throwing the temporarily magnetizable dart with temporary magnetism toward the magnetic induction scoring dartboard, after the dart hits the dartboard, lines of magnetic force temporarily produced by the temporarily magnetizable dart will enable the magnetic induction scoring dartboard to create a score.
 2. The method for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet charger in the step B is provided with magnetizing coil, the temporarily magnetizable dart is put into a magnet charger, and the body or the tip of the temporarily magnetizable dart will produce magnetism after the magnetizing coil of the magnet charger is electrified.
 3. The method for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet charger in the step B is a permanent magnet, and the temporarily magnetizable dart rubs against the magnet charger so as to enable the body or the tip of the temporarily magnetizable dart produce magnetism.
 4. The method for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a step D: demagnetizing the temporarily magnetizable dart: after the temporarily magnetizable dart is thrown, the temporary magnetism will disappear within a predetermined period of time, and the magnet charger will produce a reverse magnetic field for quick demagnetization of the temporarily magnetizable dart.
 5. An apparatus for magnetizing a dart, comprising: a temporarily magnetizable dart and a magnet charger, and being used with a magnetic induction scoring dartboard, the apparatus is characterized in that: the temporarily magnetizable dart is made of temporarily magnetizable material; and the magnet charger has magnetism and has a receiving space for insertion of a temporarily magnetizable material of the temporarily magnetizable dart.
 6. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 5, wherein the magnet charger includes a body, a power resource, and magnetizing coil, the power source and the magnetizing coil are electrically connected and located on the body, and the magnetizing coil are disposed in the receiving space of the magnet charger.
 7. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 5, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed in the receiving space of the magnet charger.
 8. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body or the tip is made of one of the materials: iron, copper, stainless steel, cupro-nickel or Ni—Fe alloy.
 9. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 5, wherein the magnet charger is positioned on the magnetic induction scoring dartboard.
 10. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnet charger is positioned on the magnetic induction scoring dartboard, and a switch for controlling the magnetizing coil and a charging light for telling if magnet charging process is finished are installed on the magnet charger.
 11. The apparatus for magnetizing a dart as claimed in claim 10, wherein the magnet charger is provided with a current flow valve for controlling current flow of the magnetizing coil. 